They are not changing the price of the 1000 yet but I think you're right, calling them Heirloom will solve the price/name conflict. Just emailed with Graham, this is what he wrote back to me just now. (Pictures are coming, I'm setting up my camera )
"Hi Ale
Thx much for your email. Glad you like the velour-- this hat should only improve with age!
We will be in NYC Sept 15-18. Appointments are filling up fast.. Please call Tif and make an appt. We have a nice room at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Hope to see you there.
We are doing 100% beaver for the entire collection this year, but 100% beaver in itself is not necessarily a mark of quality (think '100% cashmere'). Other wild furs can make exceptional hats, too. Depending upon weight and color and finish of the hats, it has been necessary to use different blends of hats for the perfect finish.
A few factors influenced our decision to run all beavers this year... a main one was the color-pallete, the other is our expanding line of Optimo 1000. Our Optimo 1000 are set apart as they are either a mixture of beaver and mink (mink is tighter felting than beaver or 100% beaver BELLY fur. This selection of fur gives a noticeable difference from our standard line-- and worth the extra money. Hard to say which hat is a better 'value'.
Hope to see you in NY
Best
Graham"
"Hi Ale
Thx much for your email. Glad you like the velour-- this hat should only improve with age!
We will be in NYC Sept 15-18. Appointments are filling up fast.. Please call Tif and make an appt. We have a nice room at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Hope to see you there.
We are doing 100% beaver for the entire collection this year, but 100% beaver in itself is not necessarily a mark of quality (think '100% cashmere'). Other wild furs can make exceptional hats, too. Depending upon weight and color and finish of the hats, it has been necessary to use different blends of hats for the perfect finish.
A few factors influenced our decision to run all beavers this year... a main one was the color-pallete, the other is our expanding line of Optimo 1000. Our Optimo 1000 are set apart as they are either a mixture of beaver and mink (mink is tighter felting than beaver or 100% beaver BELLY fur. This selection of fur gives a noticeable difference from our standard line-- and worth the extra money. Hard to say which hat is a better 'value'.
Hope to see you in NY
Best
Graham"